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Altar Service
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“You are the light of the world,” Matthew 5:14.
The youth of the parish participate in the tradition of altar service, where they directly assist the priest and deacon at the altar. This liturgical ministry is open to boys and girls in the fourth grade and older, who have received their First Holy Communion. They carry the cross, the candles, the thurible, the bread, the wine, the water, and hold ritual books among other functions. Altar servers receive training in the structure of the Mass, the liturgical use of sacred vessels, and the liturgical seasons and their colors. For additional information contact the Altar Service coordinator, Mary Dolan. Click on Altar Service to download a PDF copy of their brochure.
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Children's Liturgy of the Word
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“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them: for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” Matthew 19:14.
Children between the ages of six and nine may participate in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word. They are dismissed from the 9:30 Sunday Mass before the first scripture reading and return during the Offertory hymn. In these gatherings, they listen to the Word of God; engage in activities that aid their understanding of what they have heard; and participate in the Prayer of the Faithful.
Volunteer adult leaders work once a month in teams of two or three. They are required to be fingerprinted and participate in a special training program, VIRTUS® Child Abuse Prevention, that is offered through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Safeguard the Children program. If you are interested in this ministry, contact the coordinator Patricia Burton. For a copy of their brochure, click on Children's Liturgy of the Word.
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Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
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“I am the bread of life, says the Lord; whoever comes to me will not hunger,” John 6:35.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist in the distribution of the Eucharist during Mass. They may also volunteer to take the Eucharist to the sick or homebound of our parish. To participate in this ministry, you must 1) be a practicing Catholic and fully-initiated (Baptized, Confirmed, and received First Eucharist); 2) be a registered member of St. Bartholomew; 3) be at least 15 years of age; and 4) attend scheduled training and ongoing formation opportunities. Ministers are assigned to a team and are scheduled to serve once every four weeks. If you are interested in becoming a Eucharistic Minister, contact the coordinator, Cynthia Miramontes. For a PDF copy of their brochure, click Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
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Lectors
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“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise,” Psalm 51:17.
Lectors proclaim the readings from sacred Scripture readings, except for the Gospel. They lead the Prayer of the Faithful, and lead the responsorial psalm when it is not sung. Beyond the skills needed for by any good public speaker, being a good lector requires the ability to communicate a sense of prayerfulness and reverence. To participate in this ministry, you must 1) be a practicing Catholic and fully-initiated (Baptized, Confirmed, and received First Eucharist); 2) be a registered member of St. Bartholomew; and 3) attend scheduled training and ongoing formation opportunities. If you are interested in becoming a lector contact the coordinator, Joan Surfus. For a PDF copy of their brochure, click Lectors.
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Music Ministry, Cantors & Choir
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St. Cecilia, pray for us!
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“Sing to the Lord a new song, a hymn in the assembly of the faithful,” Psalm 149:1.
Music ministry is an integral part of the liturgical life of the Church. Music expresses the faith of the Church, but also builds unity and harmony. The choir, the cantor, and the instrumentalists all contribute to the singing at Mass. They carry out the parts assigned to them and foster “the active participation of the faithful by means of singing.” Much of the music of the liturgy is based on Scripture, and on the words and life of Christ. When members of the Church pray and sing, their words are infused with Christ’s words.
The Music & Liturgy Director oversees the musical element of the Mass by orchestrating all aspects of musical liturgy. The director leads the parish choir, which provides traditional organ music at the 11:00 Sunday Mass, on Holy Days of Obligation, and at other liturgical celebrations from mid-September through Pentecost Sunday. Additionally on Sundays, the director oversees a contemporary guitar ensemble that sings at the 9:30 Mass. If you are interested in joining the parish choir or serving as a cantor, contact the Music & Liturgy Director, Brian Archambault. For a PDF of their brochure copy, click Music Ministry.
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Ushers
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“I was a stranger . . . and you welcomed me,” Matthew 25:35.
The ministry of usher is open to men and women of the parish, who can commit to regular attendance at a specific weekend Mass, as well as special liturgies during Lent, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Holy Days of Obligation. The role of the usher is to greet and welcome people as they enter the church, and to begin the process of forming them as a worshipping body. Ushers distribute worship aids, assist the handicapped and other parishioners in finding seating, take up the collection, and as parishioners leave Mass they offer copies of the bulletin. It is important for ushers to be knowledgeable and familiar with activities that are published in the weekly parish bulletin, as well the parish facilities, parish staff members, etc. If you are interested in becoming an usher, contact Earl Lovett.
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